A civil trial has commenced in the High Court in London, where former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is being sued for symbolic 'vindicatory' damages of £1 each. The claimants, John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh, and Barry Laycock, were injured in the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, and the 1996 London Docklands and Manchester bombings, respectively. They allege that Adams, credited with contributing to the Northern Ireland peace process, was an 'instrumental force in the organisation of the PIRA [provisional IRA] and building of the two-strand attack – ArmaLite and the ballot box. A foot in each camp.'

Opening the claimants’ case, Anne Studd KC stated that their focus is to 'shine a light upon the involvement of the defendant in the PIRA' and to prove 'on balance of probabilities that he [Adams] was so intrinsically involved in the PIRA organisation that he is as culpable for the assaults giving rise to these claims as the individuals who planted and detonated the bombs.' While acknowledging Adams’ contribution to peace, Studd contended that 'he also contributed to the war.' Studd informed the court that Adams allegedly admitted involvement with the IRA to a special branch officer in 1972 and attended two meetings with government officials as a PIRA member with authority to act on the organisation’s behalf in the same year.

The claimants’ case draws on evidence from IRA volunteers, including Dolours Price, who was imprisoned for the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, as well as Troubles-era intelligence officials. Additionally, Studd claimed that Adams, while detained under internment in the 1970s, wrote a weekly column for the Republican News under the pen name 'Brownie,' including a 1976 article that stated, 'Rightly or wrongly, I’m an IRA volunteer.'

Gerry Adams, 77, who was present in court, has consistently denied being a member of the IRA. His lawyer, Edward Craven KC, submitted that the claimants waited decades too long to bring the case, arguing that it must inevitably fail on limitation grounds and on its merits. Craven stated that Adams 'strenuously denies any involvement in the bombings' and that the claimants bear a heavy burden to prove his factual and legal responsibility with 'cogent and compelling evidence,' which he asserted was lacking.

Craven highlighted the 'extraordinary and inexplicable' fact that law enforcement authorities never arrested Adams if they believed there was reasonable suspicion of his involvement. He also noted that many republicans, including Price, harboured deep hostility towards Adams because they opposed the peace process. Craven argued that even if Adams was a member of the IRA army council, 'the mere fact of that membership would not in itself be sufficient to render him liable for bombings carried out.' The trial is ongoing.

Among the claimants, Barry Laycock provided a harrowing account of his survival during the 1996 Manchester bombing. Working as a driver standards manager at Manchester Victoria railway station on the day, he survived by sheer luck when he bent down to pick up his phone at the exact moment the blast detonated. The High Court heard that the bomb 'smashed the glass in every window and blew all the doors out of their frames' in the room he was in, but the glass 'passed over the top of him' as he was stooping. Laycock, from West Yorkshire, suffered 'long-lasting injuries,' has been registered as 50 percent disabled since the attack, and never returned to work.

The Manchester bombing, detonated on June 15, 1996, involved a bomb inside a van parked outside the Arndale on Corporation Street. It injured 212 people and caused damage estimated at £700 million, devastating large parts of the city. Described at the time as the UK mainland's largest bomb since World War Two, it ultimately triggered one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects of its era and was the last Provisional IRA bombing on the British mainland.

In other news, the family of Paul McGrath continues their nearly three-decade-long quest for justice following his brutal murder. Paul, a 34-year-old joiner, was stabbed 18 times on his doorstep in Denton around 1 am on April 7, 1997. Though two men stood trial for his murder, both were cleared. His sister, Gillian, vividly recalls the shock of learning of his death. Paul, a gentle individual with no criminal links, is believed to have lost his life due to loyalty to a friend, as attackers reportedly sought his friend’s whereabouts and turned on him when he refused to disclose the information. His family still gathers annually on his birthday to remember him, grappling with profound anger and a persistent hope for justice. A £50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of his killers, with Gillian hoping that 'allegiances change' and someone will be tempted by the money as the 30-year mark approaches next year.

Meanwhile, chaotic scenes unfolded in Piccadilly Gardens recently as fights erupted after newly-elected Green Party MP Hannah Spencer addressed an anti-far right demonstration. Ms Spencer required a police escort amidst punches thrown and scuffles. She was repeatedly questioned by a YouTuber wearing a 'Trans women are men' sandwich board as she attempted to leave the event before the violence escalated. A Green Party spokesperson stated Ms Spencer was harassed by 'a few angry men' attempting to spread 'anti-trans bigotry' and noted the 'irony' of men behaving this way towards Parliament's newest female MP on International Women's Day.

Beneath Piccadilly Gardens, M.E.N. photographer Sean Hansford was granted a rare glimpse of a hidden world. Descending hidden steps at the Market Street end of the grass, into what was once a Victorian toilet, he found a network of wires and water pumps, indicative of the complex and expensive challenges involved in maintaining and revamping the public square, often referred to as a 'monumental mistake.'

Finally, the World Famous Embassy Club in Harpurhey, founded by Bernard Manning, recently hosted its last-ever comedy gig. Attendees reportedly 'drank the bar dry' during an unforgettable evening that included an 'unhinged tale about a cow and a bloke from the pub,' 'merciless heckling,' and 'a lot of laughs.'

Looking ahead, Tuesday's weather is expected to be mild but slightly overcast, with temperatures reaching 12C. Commuters should note that no Metrolink trams will be running between Victoria and Rochdale on Sunday, March 22, due to scheduled engineering works.